Based at Macroom, Co. Cork where it replaced C Company after the Kilmichael Ambush. Also served in Dublin.
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J Company
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 Peter Mc RIC |
J Company |
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Posts: 508 18-Aug-2010 9:47 PM Inspector-General |
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ballyroughan |
Note on J company in H.O. 184/226 at Kew | #1 | ||
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Posts: 38 18-Aug-2010 11:37 PM |
J Company was based at Dennys Hotel Macroom, before moving to purpose built accommodation in 1921.
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 22-May-2011 12:31 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
The Auxiliary Division memorial in Macroom | #2 | ||
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Posts: 606 17-Oct-2010 3:34 PM Inspector-General |
Not a lot of people realise that Macroom was actually a 'loyal' town during the 1919-21 period in that its inhabitants, if not directly supportive of the British administration, where not wholly averse its presence. Two memorials to the Auxiliary Division exist there, in the old Church of Ireland. The plaque pictured may now have been moved from its original location (the church is now a community centre) but in the graveyard lie the remains, and memorial to, Lt Soady who was killed at Coolavokig Feb 26th 1921.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Temporary Cadet Cleve Lindsay Soady J Company | #3 | ||
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Posts: 721 30-Dec-2010 11:44 PM Inspector-General |
The grave of Lt Cleve Lindsay Soady, ex-RNR, killed in the Coolavokig ambush in 1921. His remains lie in Macroom, one of only 3 Temporary Cadets to lie buried in Ireland.
  The inscription reads: This is the ambush site at Coolavokig, on the road between Macroom and Ballyvourney. The inscription is totally incorrect in terms of the casualties suffered by the Crown Forces.    See also Turtle Bunbury's evocative description of the ambush: http://www.turtlebunbury.com/history/history_irish/history_irish_ambush.htm
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 30-Dec-2010 11:55 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Green Tears for Hecuba | #4 | ||
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Posts: 722 31-Dec-2010 3:42 PM Inspector-General |
Lt Soady was in command of the post at one of the cottages the Auxiliaries withdrew into, following the ambush. It was here that he was shot in the mouth. and Constable Cane was wounded in the stomach. I've not been able to verify the facts independently, but the following is of interest:
"Coolnacahera (Coolavokig) was Friday. Constable Cane died on Saturday. Lieutenant Soady, having vainly withstood the traumatic effects of desperate facial injuries, decided the effort was not worth it and checked out on the Tuesday following. Somebody remembered that he had mentioned a wife. A telegram signed by the Acting Commander in Macroom Castle, found her through the War Office: "Regret to inform your husband died of wounds received in action STOP Request wire instructions STOP". Came the classic reply "Saw little of him in life STOP Don't want to see him dead STOP Bury him where he fell or in the nearest graveyard STOP". She had her wish. In a little nook hidden away at the back of the Protestant church, a bowshot from the Castle battlements, under the crossed anchors of the Royal Naval Reserve cut on a headstone now sadly listing to port, the mortal impress of the spirit of Cadet Cleve Soady has become part of the soil of Ireland..."- 'Green Tears for Hecuba'; Fr Patrick Twohig, Gaelic Press Ltd 1979
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 31-Dec-2010 3:44 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Major James Seafield Grant MC | #5 | ||
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Posts: 737 15-Jan-2011 2:59 AM Inspector-General |
The grave of District Inspector (Major) James Seafield Grant MC; killed at Coolavokig 25 February 1921.
 (By kind permission of the Gravestone Photographic Resource www.gravestonephotos.com) The inscription reads: "In / Loving Memory / of / Major James Seafield Grant / M.C., K.O.S. Borderers, R.I.C. / Born at Friston April 8th 1891 / Fell at Macroom Feb 25th 1921" "Your spirit passed, unconquered, unafraid, / To join the gallant dead" The epitaph is from a poem by Sir Owen Seaman
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 15-Jan-2011 3:09 AM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
D.I. (Major) James Seafield Grant MC | #6 | ||
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Posts: 807 21-Feb-2011 9:55 PM Inspector-General |
 Prior to WW1 he served on HMS Worcester, but at the start of war joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He was wounded and subsequently placed on the Special List. He was awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1916 “For distinguished service in the field.”
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 2-Mar-2011 8:29 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 847 12-Mar-2011 8:48 PM Inspector-General |
Note - The Eccles Hotel Glengarrif was commandeered from Mrs Bryce at the end of December 1920.
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Stanley C Jenkins |
#8 | |||
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Sergeant
Posts: 9 18-May-2011 11:04 AM |
Harvey Kemp, a member of 'J' Company, enlisted in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a private in the TF (No.4177) and served in France & Belgium with the 2/4th Bn (No.201387). He was discharged on 25 June 1918 having been granted a commission. A winner of the MM, his citation appeared in the London Gazette on 2 November 1917. He was a resident of Nuneaton.
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ballyroughan |
Major Grant Seafield-Grant. J Company. Eccles Hotel, Glengarrif, 1920. | #9 | ||
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Posts: 201 20-May-2011 8:12 PM |
Ref :- Private Collection.
Last Edited By: ballyroughan 16-Jan-2012 10:25 PM.
Edited 3 times.
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ballyroughan |
J Company. Eccles Hotel, Glengarrif, 1920. | #10 | ||
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Posts: 202 20-May-2011 8:30 PM |
Last Edited By: ballyroughan 16-Jan-2012 10:23 PM.
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Dez |
"J" Company at Glengariff | #11 | ||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 23 22-May-2011 9:02 AM |
Hello ballyroughan
I have a problem with placing "J" Company in Glengariff, in the Eccles Hotel. The timeline does not seem to fit, as the Eccles Hotel was commandeered in late December 1920 and "J" Company replaced "C" Company in Macroom, probably in mid to late January. If that is correct, it does not leave much time for "J" Company to be in Glengariff. I have seen a report, which stated that the Company (not identified) stationed at the Eccles Hotel at Glengariff, moved out after a stay of six months. If not "J" Company, the next question is what Company is it ? Dez |
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Peter Mc RIC |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 924 22-May-2011 3:32 PM Inspector-General |
Dez, not sure I understand your query. I've been debating the Eccles Hotel photo with Ballyroughan for some time now and the formation and dispersal of Auxiliary companies in general, so I hope he doesn't mind me adding some comments here. As always with the Auxies, one finds their dispersals, records and operations somewhat 'fluid' and I sense we are building up a better picture only in very small steps.The photo is undoubtedly of Seafield Grant and therefore we can assume of J Company, and certainly taken at the Eccles. Seafield Grant was in the Auxiliaries from 6 Dec 1920 until his death on 25 Feb 1921; so that gives a timeframe to work within. The report (form an Irish newspaper) I quoted in an earlier gives the occupation of the Eccles from 'late December'; and we know that J replaced C in Macroom by late January (and in fact Seafield Grant set out from Macroom the day he died). So in my opinion it gives a time frame of J Coy being in the Eccles from late December '20 to at least late January '21. Ballyroughan's PRO reference also refers to Denny's Hotel in Macroom, but no dates for their presence, presumably around the same time period. Could this be a case of elements of the same company being dispersed over two locations, due to accommodation issues; and subsequently a retained or reduced Auxiliary presence at Glengarriff lasting the full six months? The road between Glengarriff and Macroom was not a short or easy route and I'm guessing an armed presence was retained there until a later date for strategic reasons. But if you are disputing that the photo is in fact of J Company, then that's another issue. Ballyroughan has already noted that the photo is marked on reverse "Major Grant, Beggars Bush". It would be helpful if we can identify some of the other officers present to further add to the certainty. Perhaps Stanley Jenkins on this forum can identify T/C Harvey W Kemp from his knowledge and resources in the Ox & Bucks archives? I know Kemp was wounded in a grenade attack on a billiards room in Macroom but I don't have the exact date in front of me, just my annotation: Macroom Town Hall - bomb thrown through billiards room: |
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Dez |
"J" Company and the Eccles Hotel | #13 | ||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 24 22-May-2011 10:29 PM |
Hello Peter
Up to now I was just thinking in terms of dates and times, but the identification of the central figure as Major Seafield Grant upset the process. Obviously I cannot refute what is written on the back of the photograph. I am at present on the Green Isle and don't have access to any of my records. From memory I thought Major Seafield Grant joined "J" Company after they moved to Macroom, but of course I cannot remember the date. But there is something odd about the photograph, in common with others, the central figure is wearing his WW1 officers tunic. It is not the style of tunic worn by the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, in which Major Seafield Grant was an officer. As officers uniforms were individually tailored, it is hardly likely the central figure is wearing a tunic other than his own. I like your idea about identifying some of the other men in the photograph, but that is a tall order. Hope we can work it out. Dez |
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Dez |
Major Seafield Grant | #14 | ||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 25 23-May-2011 9:58 AM |
Hello folks
Apologies this morning, Major Seafield's tunic is a red herring as I noticed on another site that he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was still with them at the end of the War. So its back to basics, can anyone make out the badge backing on his Balmoral, or on any of the others. Dez |
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Hetzerman |
Major Grant | #15 | ||
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Sergeant
Posts: 10 23-May-2011 2:08 PM |
Hi All,
The photo of Major Grant at the Eccles Hotel posted by Ballyroughan is of great interest to me and I have managed to blow it up and compare it with earlier photos of him when he was joining up with Kings Own Scotish Borderers at the beginning of the war, it is the same person, the only difference is the ageing of a man who has been through the trials of the Western front with the period between photos of six years, but can anyone make out the ribbon for Military medal he won, I think it's there what does anyone else think. Bruce |
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Hetzerman |
Major Grant | #16 | ||
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Sergeant
Posts: 11 23-May-2011 4:23 PM |
Hi Again,
Slight error I mention to say, Can anyone make out the ribbon for his Military Cross he won Bruce |
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ballyroughan |
Major Grant. | #17 | ||
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Posts: 208 28-May-2011 7:49 PM |
Dez,
I concur, with what Peter has written, but will add for information on the Eccles photograph, the mount is embossed, Guy & Co Ltd, Cork, on the reverse written in pencil , Major Grant, Beggars Bush, and 1-seventeen & half x fourteen & half ins,(which i take to be frame size instruction's?) and below that is signed Guy.( which one would take to be the Photographer?). Beggars Bush, seems to have been used for a Postal and Permanent address for some Company's out stationed,where they also seem to have had an Officers mess, as i have three named beer tankards from that mess, but i may be incorrect. Some years ago i was offered a small box of mixed ephemeral material, at Birmingham's Rag Market, that i took to have come from the residue of Brigadier General Crozier's personal belongings amongst which was an S.O.book.136 indexed, and titled in ink on cover, Company's,-Allocation & Placement, needless to say i did not buy, as i could not come to an agreement with the vendor, but if i had it would have saved us a lot of guess work, and given us knowledge instead of conclusion's to where the Company's where from 1920-Feb 1921, my point being the book is still out there waiting to be rediscovered. Note for- Bruce, Yes i can see his M.C. Ribbon, it's the first on the left as you look at the ribbon bar.
Last Edited By: ballyroughan 28-May-2011 7:55 PM.
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Dez |
Major Grant | #18 | ||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 26 1-Jun-2011 7:01 PM |
ballyroughan,
Thanks for your input on Major Grant. It would appear that the recognition of "J" Company, as the Company at the Eccles Hotel, rests solely on the the identification of the central figure in the front row of the photograph as Major Grant. In the absence of any facts to the contrary, this has to be accepted. Dez |
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mgbarrett1 |
#19 | |||
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Head Constable
Posts: 12 30-Dec-2011 4:14 PM |
Hi all, Can i put the suggestion that this Is J Coy In Sept 1920 on their formation at Beggars Bush before they moved anywhere? have you identified the location for Certain?
regards Martin |
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Peter Mc RIC |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 1208 30-Dec-2011 5:32 PM Inspector-General |
 Martin, it is the Eccles for certain. At least two of us have been there. |
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Add Reply
- Genealogy Queries
- Reminiscences
- Photo Gallery
- Memorials
- Force Histories
- Medals, Badges & Equipment
- Police Transport
- Firearms
- Old RIC barracks
- Police Cycle Clubs
- The Auxiliary Division
- Poems
- RIC Standing Orders
- Favourable Records
- RIC Barracks Census Returns
- Constables 1822
- Births, Marriages & Deaths
- RIC Great War
- Cornucopia
- Videos and other interesting stuff
- Discussion
- FAQs
- Books, Reference Materials and Web Links
- Post-1922
- Announcements
- Promote your web site
- Test
